A Memorial In Israel
Joshua 22:34-The children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar, Witness, “For it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”
Shortly after the children of Israel took control of the land of Canaan, there was a potentially serious situation that arose. Two and a half tribes of Israel (Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh) had settled on the other side of the Jordan River. The other tribes learned that these had erected a huge altar on their side of the Jordan! Fearing that Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had begun serving pagan gods and goddesses, the other tribes prepared to go to war with them! However, the Jews who had built that altar explained they had made it as a memorial to their descendants, showing them that they were part of the 12 tribes of Israel and servants of the one true God. Far from being a sign of idolatry, this replica of the altar in the land of Israel was to be a memorial of their fellowship with their brethren on the other side of the Jordan River. War was averted, and the people were reminded of their shared heritage.
Memorials are important because they remind us of who we are, what we have lost, what we have gained, and what we share in common together. Our baptism into Christ is a type of memorial that reminds us that no matter where we have come from or what sinful pasts from which Christ has redeemed us, we are one in Him.
Galatians 3:26-29-For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
When we gather together at the Lord’s table to enjoy the memorial of His body and blood in the bread and fruit of the vine, we are declaring our unity together and proclaiming His death, until He returns.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17-The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
Let’s be thankful for the memorials that God has left us. These are the best memorials to pass on to your children, to remind them of salvation and unity in Christ.
Father, thank You for the blessing of memorials that remind us of our salvation and fellowship in Christ. Today we ask You to help us remember with gladness and gratitude the memorials You have left for us of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. May they speak to us of our identity in Christ, and may they proclaim hope to a world that is often so full of despair and always in need of Jesus. Amen.